Do what you love: three rules for a happy life

When choosing or developing your life path, do what you love.  This is a subtle thing, and it is worth discussing, just to avoid misunderstanding.

Here, in particular, are three things to watch out for.

THING ONE – NOTICE WHEN YOUR HEART SINKS AND SINGS

We are brought up to be polite and respectful.  While nice, this does not help us get in touch with our feelings.  Sometimes we choose a path because we think it will please those around us.  Our heart tries to warn us, giving us poor health and bad dreams.  But we don’t listen, and eventually we get depressed.  This is what happens when you live your life to please others, and ignore what you love.

Try to notice the warning signals your heart is trying to give you.  Notice in particular when your heart sings.  Learn what activities give you an expansive, loving sensation.  Within reason, try to be guided by that.  Equally, notice when your heart sinks.  Learn which people and events bring along this feeling.  Within reason, try to be guided by that too.

THING TWO – DON’T CHASE THE MONEY

We live, many of us, in economies which push us towards earning money.  They are set up that way.  We are encouraged to borrow, we get into debt, we work to escape debt, we get unhappy, we get unhealthy, we collapse, we die.  It is a set-up.  We are batteries for the economy, little energy units.  It is best not to play that game if you can help it.

Instead, pay attention to what fulfils you.  It may not be what makes you money, but it is what motivates you.  Try different activities.  See what works for you, what makes you feel healthy and content.  Then, try to build your life pattern around that.  Live frugally until you know what your resources are.  Then live within them.  In other words, instead of working to pay back what you spend, do what you love, and spend accordingly.

THING THREE – PAY ATTENTION TO YOUR HEALTH

This is very subtle.  I am going to encourage you to be mindful of what is happening in your body and mind as you perform activities.  It takes a lot of practice to learn what makes you healthy and what makes you unhealthy.  We tend to postpone our thinking about that until it is too late.  We get anxiously busy, and discover later in life that it affects our heart.  We eat convenience food, and discover later that it unbalances our hormones.  We sit still for too long, and discover later in life that our body stagnates.

Certain lifestyles drive us into a cycle of anxiety, poor eating, and lack of exercise.  They throw our minds and bodies out of balance, shorten our life expectancy, and make us mentally and physically unhealthy.  On the other hand, certain activities feel healthy, and give us time to live well, eat well, and move well.

A SUMMARY

When considering where to go next in your life:

It sounds like common sense, but it’s amazing how often these three things are ignored.  So people end up depressed, in debt, and unhealthy.

If you want to be happy, in balance, and healthy… then the good news is, it’s never too late to change.